Survey finds Alzheimer's agitation often goes unrecognized until daily disruption

Axsome Therapeutics (NASDAQ: AXSM) released results from a caregiver survey on Alzheimer's disease agitation, presented at Psych Congress 2026 in New Orleans on September 17 and 18, 2026, coinciding with World Alzheimer's Day.

The Shared Goals: Navigating Alzheimer's Agitation survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll in collaboration with CaringKind and sponsored by Axsome, polled 751 adults in the U.S. who provide unpaid care to a loved one with Alzheimer's disease. The survey was conducted between October 7 and 28, 2025.

According to the survey, 97% of care partners reported that agitation negatively affected their loved one's quality of life, while 96% said it impaired the patient's ability to care for themselves. Three in four care partners said they wished they had recognized agitation symptoms sooner, and 53% reported regretting not consulting a healthcare provider earlier.

The survey identified nonaggressive symptoms, including complaining, negativism, and frequent unwarranted requests for help, as among the most detrimental to a patient's quality of life, cited by 76% of respondents. Repetitive sentences or questions were cited by 75%, repetitive mannerisms by 67%, and pacing or aimless wandering by 56%.

Care partners also reported unmet needs in managing the condition. Nearly half, 47%, said they were uncertain about medication decisions, and 93% expressed a desire for a medication that reduced agitation symptoms without additional side effects. Additionally, 89% wished for an easier way to track symptoms over time, and 81% wanted a method to share symptom information discreetly with their loved one's doctor.

"Recognizing these behaviors early and discussing them with a healthcare provider allows families and clinicians to set shared goals for care and discuss treatment options," said Brent P. Forester, M.D., psychiatrist-in-chief at Tufts Medical Center.

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